By Gary Lawrence
THEO GIVE US A BALL is the autobiography of Theo Foley co-authored by Theo and his son Paul. When Paul sent me a copy of their book he told me that once I start reading it I wouldn’t be able to put it down and he wasn’t wrong. It’s a cracking read from start to finish. It tells of Theo’s many up and downs in over 60 years of being involved in professional football as a player, coach and manager.
Theo’s personality really comes across as you turn the pages on his life story. Theo tells us about his upbringing in Dublin and the strong family bond and values that his parents instilled in him and his siblings. There wasn’t a great deal deal of money about for working class families in Dublin at that time and the Foley’s were no exception but one thing that was free was football and Theo fell in love with the game and ended up playing for Home Farm who so many other famous Irish professional footballers played for.
Theo followed his dream to become a professional player and in the summer of 1954 young Theo crossed the Irish Sea to England. All he had with him an old fashioned brown suitcase with metal corners and straps with just a few items of clothing and his football boots in it heading for a trail period with Burnley at the time one of the top clubs in the country. Despite being rejected by Burnley which would have destroyed the confidence of many young players. It made Theo even more determined to make the grade as Theo went to Exeter City a club in the old Fourth Division. Theo worked his socks off and was rewarded with his first professional contract.
Eventually Theo established himself and it wasn’t long before the hard working no nonsense right back was snapped up by Northampton Town managed by former Arsenal player Dave Bowen. The book then takes us through Northampton’s meteoric rise through the Divisions all the way to the top flight with Theo skippering the side playing against all the glittering star names at that time. He also proudly gets selected to play international football for Ireland. However Northampton unfortunately then slide back down the divisions as quickly as they came up.
Theo is then released by Northampton Town and is signed by Charlton Athletic. The book details Theo’s desperate struggle to overcome a bad knee injury that despite Theo trying everything he can to save his career was in all in vain as he sadly had to call it a day as a player.
He then starts another phase of his career becoming Assistant Manager at Charlton under Eddie Firmini before taking over as manager showing what a keen eye Theo had for spotting a decent player signing the likes of Mick Flanagan and Derek Hales.
An eventful time under Gordon Jago at Millwall is followed by Theo coaching the youth team at QPR than later when Terry Venables became manager Theo took the reserves and Terry brought in George Graham to coach the youth team. Theo and George immediately hit it off together with similar ideas about the game and this was to lead to a highly successful partnership. First at Millwall then at what was the peak of Theo’s career at The Arsenal.
The book gives a very insightful account of Theo and George’s time at The Arsenal, particularly the early days when they reinvigorated the club and the squad. Phasing out the big stars and replacing them with younger players from the youth team and lower divisions who were hungry to taste success.
Do yourself a favour and get yourself a copy of this book. I throughly recommend it. The book has some great anecdotes superbly conveyed to print by Theo’s son Paul with some excellent photos such the one above of Theo embracing Michael Thomas after Anfield 89. It’s clear that Theo was loved by everybody who played with him or worked under him and Tony Adams is spot on when he says there are not enough Theo Foleys in the game.
Started going to Highbury in ’66. Season ticket holder since ’76. Love The Arsenal. Need I say more?
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